Day 9 Selcuk to IST

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Day 9 Selcuk: We visited the farmers market in town yesterday and it is a highlight. The sights and sounds are wild. We buy a huge watermelon for US$2, and lug it around for an hour. Robin feeds 2 lost kittens mini hot dogs she bought in the supermarket, and gets some milk from a shop owner. No, you can't take them home with us.
We meet a Belgian lady who runs a carpet shop, but also makes mini carpets for doll houses. Finally, a carpet we can afford!! But each one takes her 3 days, so maybe it is still expensive. She is very nice to chat with, and has 2 lovely cats that we pet.
We visit the museum and St. John’s Bassilica, your standard-fare “things to see” sites. A circumcision parade diverts our attention from the train taking us to Izmir airport, but we just make it onboard. A woman from NYC is next to us…only our 2nd American contact in Turkey. Robin is reading David Sedares’ new book on the train, and every once in a while she bursts out in teary laughter, getting a few stares. Actually there are 2 more Yanks on the Atlas jet to IST ($70 each, and fine service, but an older Airbus).
We were able to book a room very close to the airport at the WOW hotel, which I am sure goes for $200 a night when there is a conference going on, but on this slow Sunday night is $103 on Expedia. The hotel is sterile, may as well be in Cleveland, quite isolated from the world, but the breakfast buffet is great. Time to go home tomorrow!

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